Почему снятся кошмары и можно ли с ними справиться

Nightmares — the last thing we want after a busy day at work or any stressful events. But they are the ones that most often come instead of a relaxing and rest-giving sleep.

And if single episodes of scary dreams can be easily explained by stress or overwork, then why do we have nightmares that come to us from night to night, and sometimes completely deprive of strength and energy?

Why do you have nightmares: causes of scary dreams

Scientists who study sleep frankly admit that a lot of what happens to sleep s still remains incomprehensible. If biochemical or physiological changes in the  organism can be registered with the help of high-precision equipment, then the movie"that the brain shows us in a dream remains visible only to the sleeping person.

But the influence of certain circumstances on the plot of our dreams has already been confirmed. And some features of nightmares are even used as diagnostic criteria.

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"Serial Nightmares"

When in sleep, one way or another, the the same feelings — it may be a sign of illness. For example, people with  diseases of the heart and  respiratory organs often have nightmares in which they drown, find themselves under an avalanche, and fill up with stones. With other differences in the plot, the key detail is suffocation or lack of air. Thus, the brain visualizes hypoxia (oxygen deficiency in tissues). Therefore, if you have dreams with  repeating unpleasant sensations (suffocation, hunger, pain, and others), contact your doctor for comprehensive examination.

Recurring scenario

When you constantly have the same same dream (or with minor plot variations), there may be several reasons. First — unfinished stressful event. For example, at work they warned about the upcoming reduction, but they didn’t say exactly who was participating in this “promotion”. The expectation of a catastrophe can turn into nightmares, in which you constantly come to work in only your underwear or your boss is chasing you in the form of a monster. Such nightmares usually end on the same day the event ended — you found out exactly who will be laid off. It is noteworthy that even if you were laid off —

The second reason — post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This condition develops after an experienced tragedy (combat actions, natural or man-made disasters, road accidents, violence). PTSD is characterized by dreams in which a dramatic situation is repeated — you as if you are returning to that terrible day. In this case, it is impossible to fight nightmares on your own — without the help of a psychotherapist or psychologist can not do. Because the threat to the psyche is not  the kosharas themselves, but  PTSD, which can end in severe depression.

Read also: Why and who needs a conversation with psychologist

Situational Nightmares

This is the most "healthy" form of terrifying dreams. For example, you dream that you are standing naked in a clean field, and   snow is falling on you from above. You're cold, and you understand: a little more, and you die. Waking up from fear, you notice the window wide open and the blanket has slid down   —  — "showing" you dream about a snow-covered field, the brain thus broadcast real hypothermia.

According to the same scenario, events develop after a quarrel with relatives — feeling guilty for words spoken in a fever», in sleep we can see their death or, if we feel unfairly offended, we can run away from relatives who have turned into zombies or other monsters.

Read also: Burnout at work: 4 steps to recovery But regardless of the reasons of nightmares and their features, it is important to contact a specialist if:

Nightmares every night or very often.

  • You have other sleep disturbances (difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings, restless leg syndrome).

  • You have already forgotten what it means to wake up fresh and rested after a night's sleep.

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Don't forget that nightmares — this is one of the types of sleep disorders. And the need for proper sleep for the health of the soul and body cannot be overstated. Therefore, if bad dreams have become an invariable attribute of your life — consult a doctor.

Read also: 

Chronic stress: how to identify and solve the problem

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